Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.5

2002 vintage. Last tasted 10.06.22 (9.4). Similar "gliding along" impressions with feminine characteristics. This bottle (nice fill, cork and decent sed) was a goody. Decanted and tasted after 5 mins, 30 mins and 2 hours. Bit more structure evident after two hours open as to be a different, yet fantastic, wine. Funny how some of these underwhelming, less than aggro wines can take on another life of their own, on their terms, by gently removing all doubt. Still another 5-7 years-easy. 11.21.24. — 5 months ago

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.5

2013 vintage. Both excellent fill and cork. Decanted with infinitesimal sed. Slightly silvery color. Tasted after 1.5 and 2.5 hours open. Medium body. Nose slightly reticent during both tastes. Black tea and eucalyptus prominent first go round with both those still present but minimized second pass. Sprinkle in some cracked black pepper and white sage for round two and we have a winner. Finish lasted over a minute and the concentration was as expected given the decent street cred. No rush to crush but open waay early/decant this if enjoying in the next handful of years. 10.24.24. — 6 months ago

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.2

2009 vintage. Decanted and open for approx an hour before tasting. A little tight but Burgundian body and flavors. Wasn't picking up any Syrah notes in the nose either. 7.22.23. — 2 years ago

Will Stanley

9.4

The 2016 Chateau Musar, the winery’s latest vintage on release, is much less forthcoming on the nose than the 2013 and ‘15 that I’ve tried recently, despite - or perhaps because of - the fact that the Hochars consider 2016 to be a successful and very ageworthy vintage.

The nose is quite dense and tightly wound, much like a left bank Bordeaux presents in its youth, not yet revealing its cards besides aromas of cedar, steeped plum, smoked beef and cinnamon. The palate, however, is open for business - powerful and saturated, striking that wonderful Musar balance between dark fruit and tangy acidity, expanding towards a puckering finish with good length.

The lasting impression here is of a very modern rendition of Musar, with great clarity and purity to the fruit, fine tannins, refreshing acidity on the palate and great drinkability now (though equal potential to age). My preference of late remains the 2013, but that’s now quite hard to buy - so I’d happily have a case of this instead.

94+ — 3 years ago

Daniel McCullough

9.5

Full-bodied with acerbic bite, beginning to open up splendidly. — 5 years ago

"Odedi"

9.2

A very enjoyable Zinfandel from Sonoma County, California.

Showing dark berries with earth, spices, peppercorn, chocolates, graphite, dark coffee, tobacco and beef jerky.

A long tangy finish with firm tannins and tangy cranberries.

This still has 5 to 10 years in it.

Needs a couple of hours to open up properly and show tannins. Wasn't that great right out of the bottle, so be patient.

A blend of 79% Zinfandel, 18% Petite Sirah and 3% Carignan. All from Dry Creek Valley. Aged for 13 months in American oak barrels.

14.5% alcohol by volume.

92 points. — 6 years ago

Mike Saviage

9.6

Had to open this after the 92 Verget Montrachet the night before pushing me this way. Deep yellow gold color from bottle with a high fill. Nose suggests immediately this is the real deal. Notes of apricot, lemon, clay soil and some brown spice. Incredible impact in the mouth. Lucious fruit battling fine grain acidity that makes your face flush. This always performs and is one of my all time fave white burgs. — 7 years ago

Michael Genn

9.3

Took a really long time to open up, but ended up being pretty damn good. Not as good as some late 80s/early 90s Dunns I've had though. — 9 years ago

Laurent Vasseur

9.2

6 liters open decanted 18 hours prior drinking — 10 years ago

Astrid Lewis

10

1947. Can't actually believe I have rated this in my lifetime. Although it had a significant amount of leakage and oxidisation, it was still bright, still had bags of fruit, tannins, acidity. What am incredibly generous wine to open to celebrate our new little company. Thx guys xxx — 11 years ago

with Pierpaolo and Chris

Jay Kline

9.3

Double decanted two nights before service. The 2013 Insignia pours a deep garnet color with an opaque core; medium+ viscosity with significant staining of the tears and some signs of sediment. On the nose, the wine is developing but still quite youthful with notes of tart and ripe dark fruit: dense brambles, purple flowers, tobacco, vanilla and baking spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium+. At 11 years of age, this remains tightly coiled and needs more time to open up and tell more of its story. All that being said, this is very good now…but to my palate, better after 2027 and through 2043. — 6 months ago

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.3

2001 vintage. Nice fill and great cork. Opened and decanted. Expected sed but fairly minimal compared to a Cabernet-based wine. Beguiling nose. Light-medium body that had dropped any extra fat long ago. Spiced plum definitely afoot. Tasted after 15 mins open, 1 hour open, 1.5 hrs open and 8 hrs open. Remarkably consistent. Likely another half-decade at this plateau before dropping down. 10.16.24. — 7 months ago

Alan Hyde

9.2

Needed at least an hour to open up. Wasn’t good until then. Great combination of savory flavors. — 3 years ago

Alexandre Gillioen

9.5

One glass and I did not open the whole bottle. Still I am not disappointed. So far one of the best Chateauneuf-du-pape I had except for Rayas. I am wondering how it wilm evolve. Sor far we have dark fruits, a bit of spices and quite à long finish. I am also surprised that such a wine is pretty much unknown. — 3 years ago

Philip Deibel

9.3

Home alone for 24 hrs! The perfect time to open something older. Fully mature Bordeaux... I mean Napa! Dried fruit and tobacco, there is still a frame of tannins but they are well integrated and slightly chalky in texture. Enjoyable but more mature than I prefer. — 5 years ago

Chip Habegger

9.4

Fantastic. Lots of structure that benefits from time open. Packed with fruit and depth. — 6 years ago

Patrick V

8.9

Took some time to open up but did quite well. Really great nez and solid balance/structure. Would have preferred a longer finish. — 6 years ago

Manchester Sheldon

9.3

Violets and peppercorns on the nose, it needs some air to open up, dark wood and some earth on the background. — 7 years ago

Rachel Van Til

9.2

In good condition but never really sung over it's five hours open. More herbs and flowers than tobacco. — 8 years ago

Dean Bernal Sr.

9.0

Silver Oaks Napa Cab. Full bodied, great tannins, smooth finish, a mouthful of flavor. Let it open up for awhile and enjoy. — 9 years ago

with Jeff and Isaac

Brian Bell

9.0

Way too early to open, but it's Christmas, so why not. — 10 years ago

Sam Friedland

9.2

Very nice, needed time to open. Earth, leather. Somewhat subdued a little fruit — 6 months ago

Andrew Cullimore

9.1

Medium ruby , garnet rim, touch of terracotta rim . Slightly dusty , animal touch , with leather , spicy and herbal , soy , iodine . On the palate quite strict , grafite , slightly more red fruit , cranberry , then blackcurrant and grafite . Slightly dusty dry tannins , balanced acidity . Slightly spicy , mineral , grafite tinged finish . This needs a bit of time to open but shows quite well , slightly herbal , and perhaps lacks a little charm , but is quite classic in style if not a great 1985. From now and over the next 10 years . On the night this was probably only ahead of the 1977 , and my least favourite of the 1980s vintages . — 6 months ago

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.4

2000 vintage. Last tasted 9.25.23 (9.2) after 1.5 hours decanted. Popped and decanted this for lunch. Great fill and solid cork. Throwing a bit of sed but less than anticipated. Meh nose. Medium body initially. Started off on the rich side of the ledger but not plush. Had some smoothness afoot. Tasted after 45 mins open, 1.75 hours open and 8 hours open. First two were unspectacular. After lounging in the decanter 8 hours, wine had firmed up, thinned out, picked up plenty of secondary flavors and had that previously missing grip. If you're gonna open this during the holidays or anytime soon, do it very very early...otherwise, it'll be a total waste. Wine has miles to go. No rush to crush but just air it out in advance properly. 10.16.24. — 7 months ago

Lee Pitofsky

9.5

MDT side by side I’ve always wanted to do! 😍

François Raveneau “Montée de Tonnerre” 2013- Now for Raveneau’s MDT where the Domaine has always particularly excelled. Similarly floral and elegant in its bouquet, it is more powerful than the Dauvissat, and there is additional emphasis on its freshness, salinity and crushed oyster shell minerality. The palate shows excellent depth, texture and waxy yellow fruit that’s driven home by a racy citrus inflicted acidity that leads to its long and vibrant finish.

This was a much closer “race” than I anticipated, and only a slight overall edge goes to Raveneau for its power, vibrancy, depth and texture. The Dauvissat is more open, requiring less time to show all that it can be, but that wasn’t a surprise so the Raveneau was given a bit more air. The Dauvissat may even be a bit more complex at this stage in its life but the Raveneau seemingly will be longer lived. (Although still an early drinking vintage especially by Raveneau standards). Most importantly it was a great side by side that I hope to do again! 🙌🏻 — 3 years ago

Matt

9.3

Surprised by the generosity, drinking quite well for how young it is. Open-knit, true to place, moderately framed with some true charm to it. Really enjoyed over a few days. Deep red fruit, almost succulent, soaked cherries and lots of licorice root, cedar, cinnamon, flowers and tar. There’s a undertone of earth. From a tannin perspective these appear ripe, with moderate intensity relatively speaking. — 6 years ago

Conrad Green

9.5

Soft, expansive and open. Pretty red fruit and roses, leather notes, tobacco, iron and black tea. Lovely stuff and drinking really well now — 6 years ago

with Howard, Matt and 1 other

Daniel Steilen

8.9

Kind of a shame to open so young - needs 5-10 yrs to come together. Not quite enough acidity to bring fruit into balance. Purple, full bodied, fruit forward wine. Tons drinking blueberry/blackberry with a bit of earth. Still very tasty, especially with an hour or so of air. — 8 years ago

Michael Horkay

9.6

Grand cru raveneau is awesome and I'm fortunate to try this. 2003 was a hit ripe year in burgundy and most producers made wine that was too over the top. There is a ton of lees contact and the wine took three hours to open. For raveneau virgins.... You can't pop and poor this wine. Ok back on target... Glorious meyer lemon and minerality with classic only raveneau can mimic. This is amazing soulful wine. — 9 years ago

Chris Leon

9.2

Always built for the long haul. But discipline isn't necessarily needed; it's open and expressive right now. — 10 years ago